Vending-machine



M. C. RHODES.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED lAN.26 19I8- 1,372,550. Patented Mar. 22,1921. 2 SHEETS-SHEU l- Evwpmtoz M. C. RHODES.

VENDI'NG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FiLED JAN-2841918- Patelited Mar. 22, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent, Patent d lu 1921 Application filed January 26, 1918. Serial No. 213,933.

To all whom it may canoe 7%."

Be it known that I, MARSHAL C. RHODES,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Ashland, in the parish of Natchitoches and State of Louisianmhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vendinglvlachines, of which the folimving is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in vending machines, and more particularly a new and improved machine of this character, that is operatedby a coin, and which comprises an article holder,

and mechanism for ejecting an article from the magazine upon a coin being placed in the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a very simple and efficient type of vending machine of this character, which is especially adapted for VJlCliDg chewing gum, smallcandy, or the like, and which machine is entirely RHtOIDELtiClH operation, inasmuch as upon placing a coin in the coin chute, the same operates the article discharg ing mechanism, so that the lowermost article in the magazine is discharged. and also the next article is dropped down into position, so that the machine is always operative as long as the magazine contains the articles to be vended.

A further object of the invention is to.

provide a device of this character,which is easily and simply. constructed, inexpensive to manufacture, and one which will be very efficient in operation.

With these and numerous other objects in view, my invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts which will be herein referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section,

Fig. 3 is a rear view with the back re moved,

Fig. 4: is a side elevation with one side re moved, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmenta-l detail of the tripping mechanism.

In describing my invention. I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 1

The numeral 1 designates the casing of my new and improved vending nnrchine, wh1ch may beformed of any desired material, preferably metal, said casing having a hinged frontQ, which is pivoted at its lower edge, and positioned within. the casing adjacent the front face thereof, is a. hinged magazine or container 3, which is provided with a partition at, dividing the same into two upright compartments. Any number of compartments may be employed as desired, by increasin the size of the casing, and providing a c ischarging mechanism for each compartment. The lower or front face of the casing is open, and is provided with a projecting shield portion 5 that guides the articles discharged from the casing, and which likewise prevents unauthorized tampering with the internal mechanism of the machine, by persons inserting their hands, or sticks or the like through the open front thereof. This pivoted construction of the front 2, permits the same to be swung outwardly, so that the refilling is greatly expedited, and likewise renders the coin receiw ing chamber easily accessible.

Therearportion of the casing 1, which is desi 'nated by the numeral 6, extends outwarc ly, from the upper edge to the lower edge, to provide an enlarged chamber for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described. The opposite sides of the casing, are provided with parallel coin chutes 7, which extend from an opening in the upper edge thereof down into the coin receiving chamber 8, which is preferably lined with a rubber, felt or any other sound deadening material. The rear walls of the chutes, are provided with apertures 9, communicating with the enlarged rear side of said casing. an'd likewise having their front euds opeu ing into the coin chutes 7.

The article discharging mechanism employed in this type of vending machine, comprises a pivoted lever -10, having its upper portion 11 substantially straight, and pivoted as shown at 12 at its upper end, said straight portion likewise being provided with a projecting lip 13, that is normally disposed within the opening 9, and hence having its inclined upper face 14 disposed across the coin chute. The lower portion of the lever 10 is bentinwardly as shown at 15, and the lower extremity thereof is provided with a pushing fork or yoke 16, which is disposed beneath the lowermost article in the magazine 4, when the lever is in normal position. coil spring 17 connects the lever, intermediate its ends with the rear wall of the casing fora purpose tobe hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 have shown the machine as comprising a magazine formed with two upright chambers therein, but it is obvious that any number of. chambers may be employed as desired, providing each chamber has a discharging mechanism cooperatively related therewith. Separate mechanism is employed for each of the chambers shown in the accompanying drawings but as the mechanism is exactly alike, I have only specifically de scribed one of the same for the sake of brevity..

1 'n operation, when the various parts of the device are in normal position, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the articles to be vended are positioned in the container or magazine, upon the insertion of a coin in the coin chute 7, through the openingin the top of the casing or side wall thereof, the coin will drop down, and its weight will be sufficient, that upon its com- 'ing into engagement with the projecting lip 13 on the lever 10, to force the lever rearwardly, within the enlarged portion 6 of the casing, and hence withdraw the fork. The lever 10 will then be thrown into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and the spring '17 will be compressed. Immediately upon the fork portion of the lever being removed from beneath. the article, one article will drop down into the space formerly occupied by said fork, and after the coin passes the lip, the spring will force the lever back into'position, and the fork moving forward will engage said'article and project the same forwardly through the open portion in the front of the casing. This will throw the articlelout through the discharge chute 5, to

1 the purchaser.

The operation of this type of vending machine is very simple, and the small number of movable parts employed in the discharging mechanism, does not detract from the efliciency of the device in any manner. Its operation is entirely automatic, and the operation of the coin controlled discharge mechanism is thoroughly reliable. The inclined back permits the machine to be attached to theater seats or the like.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention may be had, and while I have shown and de scribed the device as embodying a specific structure, I desire that it be understood that such changes may be made in said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In a vending machine of the class de scribed, an upright stationary article holding magazine provided with a plurality of vertical compartments, coin chutes arranged laterally and at each side of said compartments, ejecting levers pivotally supported in the upper part of said magazines and provided with coin engaging, projecting lips extending within the coin chutes whereby the levers may be actuated by a coin falling vertically within the chutes, each of said levers extending inwardly and downwardly terminating in a right angled forked yoke positioned in the bottom of the compartments for supporting the articles to be vended, and contractile springs normally holding the yokes within the compartments and adapted to eject the lowermost article during the return movement of the said yokes after the levers are actuated.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature hereto.

MARSHAL C. RHODES. 

